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COFXRIGUT DEPOSm 



TEN LESSONS IN 
PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Rev. JOSEPH P. HICKS, a.m. 



Ten Lessons in 
Personal Evangelism 

BY 

Rev. JOSEPH P. HICKS, a.m. 



• 1 



WITH A FOREWORD BY 

Rev. mark A. MATTHEWS, d.d., ll.d. 




NEW ^^SJT YORK 
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 






COPYRIGHT^ 1922, 
BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 



\ 




PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OP AMERICA 



flPh'18?2 

0)G!.A661328 






1 



DEDICATION 

To the splendid class m Personal Evangelism 
which the author conducted in the First 
Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma 
City, in the year 1921, and to 
other classes of similar char- 
acter, which may yet he cortr 
ducted, is this volume af- 
fectionately dedicated. 



FOREWORD 

The Holy Spirit has but one program for 
the church, namely, the program of evan- 
gelism. All that we are accustomed to in- 
clude in our terms, "Home and Foreign 
Missions/' is included in the word "evan- 
gelism/' 

When Christ said, "Go ye into all the 
world and preach/' He meant all that is 
intended in the word "evangelism." 

The greatest need of this day is a passion 
for souls, a love for incessant Christian 
work, and a knowledge of how to do per- 
sonal work. 

Drummond said we should "buttonhole" 
men to Christ. Christ sent His disciples 
out two by two. The Holy Spirit sends each 
Christian out with instructions to make a 
disciple for Christ. It is impossible for one 

[vii] 



FOREWORD 

to be a Christian without being a mission- 
ary, and, of course, impossible for a mis- 
sionary to go out unless he is a true 
Christian. Therefore, each and every Chris- 
tian who is redeemed by the blood of Christ, 
who is baptized into the body of Christ by 
the Holy Spirit, and who is sealed with the 
everlasting seal of the Holy Ghost, is in- 
structed to do personal, evangelistic work. 

It is the duty of each and every Christian 
to lead some person to Christ every day. 
It means the development of the Christian, 
the evangelization of the world, and the 
preparing of the body of Christians for the 
coming of Jesus Christ. 

Let me urge you to be a diligent student, 
an untiring worker, and a successful, per- 
sonal evangelist. 

Seattle 

[viii] 



PREFACE 

In January, 1921, the author of this text 
book was invited by the Pastor and Session 
of the First Presbyterian Church of Okla- 
homa City to conduct a School of Evan- 
gelism lasting ten consecutive weeks. The 
School was conducted on Wednesday Eve- 
nings. The ladies of the church prepared a 
worker's dinner which they served promptly 
at 6 :30 P. M. and before the Prayer Meet- 
ing, which was held at 7:45 P. M. While 
partaking of the dinner the people became 
better acquainted and this added materially, 
as well as spiritually, to the success of the 
work of the teaching period. 

More than two hundred people attended 
the school at the close of which, class night, 
was held, when Doctor Baird, the Pas- 
tor, presented the graduates with their di- 
plomas. 

[ix] 



PREFACE 

During the continuance of the school, 
from the first of January to the week pre- 
ceding Easter, nearly three hundred new 
members were added to the church. 

The school proved so helpful to the First 
Church of Oklahoma City that many pastors 
throughout the land made request that the 
same lessons be given in their respective 
churches. 

When the Synod's Committee on Evan- 
gelism met in Cushing, October 5-7, 1921, 
the Ten Lessons used in this school were 
commended to all the churches throughout 
the bounds of the Oklahoma Synod. 

After Doctor Baird had started on his 
journey round the world the Author of this 
book received the following letter from 
him: 

Eev. J. P. Hicks, 

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 
Dear Brother and Co-worker : — 

I am thinking this morning of our 
conferences concerning Him and His 

[X] 



PREFACE 

work — all of which have been so pleas- 
ant, and of the School of Evangelism 
which you led for us last year. 

This school, my friend, has proven of 
much benefit to us in many ways. I 
have had inquiries from other churches 
concerning it and requests for your 
time in putting on such work in other 
places. 

On account of this benefit and the 

fact that the work was along the line of 

the New Era — in fact, quite a little in 

advance of it — I am greatly in hopes 

the church will cooperate with you in 

putting on another such study. Men 

prepare for salesmanship and we have 

schools for preparation in life's chosen 

business. How fit it is for the children 

of light to prepare for the work of 

eternity. I trust it will seem good to 

the Session and the people to cooperate 

with you in this work. I shall sorely 

miss the privilege of meeting with you 
[xi] 



PREFACE 

at your dinners and your Wednesday 
evening lessons. 

I am speaking to you now while on 
my way to the other side of the globe. 
We are not far apart by the throne. 

May God bless you and your family, 
is my prayer. 

Very truly yours, 

Phil 0. Baird. 

Any church desiring it may use the les- 
sons herein given and conduct a School of 
Evangelism. The school idea should run 
throughout all the work. The first class to 
take the course will prove invaluable as the 
Alumni of the School of Evangelism and 
will help to bring others into the school 
from year to year. 

If through the pages of this little text 
book any one is led to become more inter- 
ested and proficient in soul winning the 

[xii] 



PREFACE 

Author will be doubly repaid for the work 
which has been required in preparing the 
book. 

J. P. H. 



[xiii] 



They therefore that were scattered abroad went 
about preaching the word. — Acts 8: J/.. 



Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all na- 
tions, baptizing them in the name of the 
Father, and of the Son and of the Holy 
Spirit; teaching them to observe all things 
whatsoever I have commanded you : and lo, I am 
with yon always, even unto the end of the 
world— MatJiew 28:19, 20. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAQH 

I Introduction: 

THE TASK OF THE CHURCH 19 

II Lesson One: 

PERSONAL WORK ... 22 

III Lesson Two: 

THE PERSONAL WORKER . . 30 

IV Lesson Three: 

SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL 
WORKERS 35 

V Lesson Four: 

METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 38 

VI Lesson Five : 

SWARMING BEES FOR PER- 
SONAL WORKERS ... 45 

VII Lesson Six: 

PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT 

OF THYSELF? .... 52 

VIII Lesson Seven: 

THE PERSONAL WORKERS' 

OPPORTUNITIES ... 57 

[xix] 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER PAGE 

IX Lesson Eight: 

THE PERSONAL WORKERS' 

TASK 65 

X Lesson Nine : 

THE PERSONAL WORKER AND 

HIS BIBLE 75 

XI Lesson Ten: 

THE PERSONAL WORKER AND 

HIS PROBLEMS • . . 81 



[XX] 



TEN LESSONS IN 
PERSONAL EVANGELISM 



i 



TEN LESSONS IN 
PERSONAL EVANGELISM 



THE TASK OF THE CHUECH 

Introduction 

"The Church has an abiding and supreme 
task which has confronted her and put its 
solemn obligation upon her in every age. 
This task is to bring sinful men to accept 
the mercy and forgiveness of God with 
reconciliation to Him and newness and full- 
ness of life in Him. Whatever else the 
Church fails to do, she must not fail in this. 
The Church was born in the evangelistic 
and missionary fervor of the first Christians. 
They had experienced forgiveness and the 
joy of reconciliation which they had sought 
in vain through certain rites and ceremonies. 

[19] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

They experienced a newness and fullness of 
life, which they were right in attributing 
to the presence and power of the Spirit of 
God which dwelt richly in them. About 
this great discovery, they could not refrain 
from telling others. They went everywhere 
proclaiming this and gathered into 
Churches and those Churches became cen- 
ters of evangelistic and missonary effort. 
They were witnessing, winning, converting 
Churches. Men were won, almost, in spite 
of themselves. They were saved from sin 
to the new life. There have been since those 
first years many periods of decline and in- 
activity, of worldliness, of spiritual power- 
lessness, of hopelessness accompanied by a 
feeling bordering on despair. These times 
have come when this primary abiding task 
of the Church was forgotten or neglected. 
The neglect of the real task of the Church is 
always disastrous and fatal. The Church 
may go on in a fair-seeming way, its great 
temples and cathedrals and its stately serv- 

[20] 



THE TASK OP THE CHURCH 

ices may present an appearance of impres- 
siveness, but if it is not touching the spir- 
itual lives of men with saving power and 
renewing grace it is all unavailing. The 
apostolic method of evangelization has 
never been improved. It was the successful 
method of the early Church. The members 
of the Church went everywhere proclaiming 
Christ to sinful men. This is the task of the 
Church to-day. That Christians may be 
trained for this task this book is edited and 
compiled and given to the Church. The au- 
thor acknowledges help from many sources. 
Any one who takes the time to read the 
scriptural references, alone, will find an in- 
spiration to go into all the world and pro- 
claim Christ. This is your task. This is 
my task.^' 



[21] 



II 

PERSONAL WORK 

Lesson One 

The first thing that impresses us in the 
study of this theme is the great number of 
scriptural references which directly refer 
to personal endeavor. If personal work is 
emphasized by the teachings of the Bible^ 
no Christian should excuse himself from 
the task. 

LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD 

"For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto 
a man that is an householder, who went 
out early in the morning to hire laborers 
into his vineyard. And when he had agreed 
with the laborers for a shilling a day, he 
sent them into his vineyard. And he went 
out about the third hour, and saw others 

[22] 



PERSONAL WORK 

standing in the marketplace idle; and to 
them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, 
and whatsoever is right I will give you. 
And they went their way. Again he went 
out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and 
did likewise. And about the eleventh hour 
he went out, and found others standing; 
and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here 
all the day idle? They say unto him. Be- 
cause no man hath hired us. He saith unto 
them. Go ye also into the vineyard. And 
when even was come, the lord of the vine- 
yard saith unto his steward. Call the labor- 
ers, and pay them their hire, beginning 
from the last unto the first. And when they 
came that were hired about the eleventh 
hour, they received every man a shilling. 
And when the first came, they supposed 
that they would receive more ; and they like- 
wise received every man a shilling. And 
when they received it, they murmured 
against the householder, saying. These last 
have spent but one hour, and thou hast 

[23] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

made them equal unto us, who have borne 
the burden of the day and the scorching 
heat. But he answered and said to one of 
them, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst 
not thou agree with me for a shilling? 
Take up that which is thine, and go thy 
way; it is my will to give unto this last, 
even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me 
to do what I will with mine own? Or is 
thine eye evil, because I am good? So 
the last shall be first, and the first last.'' 
Matthew 20:1-16. 

^^Again on the morrow John was stand- 
ing, and two of his disciples ; and he looked 
upon Jesus as he walked, and saith. Behold 
the Lamb of God! And the two disciples 
heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 
And Jesus turned, and beheld them follow- 
ing, and saith unto them, What seek ye? 
And they said unto him, Eabbi (which is 
to say, being interpreted. Teacher), where 
abidest thou? He saith unto them. Come,- 
and ye shall see. They came therefore and 

[24] 



PERSONAL WORK 

saw where he abode; and they abode with 
him that day; it was about the tenth hour. 
One of the two that heard John speak, and 
followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's 
brother. He flndeth first his own brother 
Simon, and saith unto him. We have found 
the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, 
Christ). He brought him unto Jesus. 
Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art 
Simon the son of John ; thou shalt be called 
Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter) .'' 
John 1:35-42. 

^'1 must work the works of him that sent 
me, while it is day ; the night cometh, when 
no man can work.'' John 9: 4, 

"And he suffered him not, but saith unto 
him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and 
tell them how great things the Lord hath 
done for thee, and how he had mercy on 
thee. And he went his way, and began to 
publish in Decapolis how great things 
Jesus had done for him; and all men mar- 
velled.'^ Mark 5:19-20. 

[25] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

"Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from 
henceforth thou shalt catch men. And 
when they had brought their boats to land, 
they left all, and followed him.'' Lwke 
5:10-11. 

"Now Peter and John were going up into 
the temple at the hour of prayer, being the 
ninth hour. And a certain man that was 
lame from his mother's womb was carried, 
whom they laid daily at the door of the tem- 
ple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms 
of them that entered into the temple; who 
seeing Peter and John about to go into the 
temple, asked to receive an alms. And Pe- 
ter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, 
said. Look on us. And he gave heed unto 
them, expecting to receive something from 
them. But Peter said. Silver and gold have 
I none; but what I have, that give I thee. 
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 
walk. And he took him by the right hand, 
and raised him up ; and immediately his feet 
and his ankle-bones received strength. And 

[26] 



PERSONAL WORK 

leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; 
and he entered with them into the temple, 
walking and leaping, and praising God. 
And all the people saw him walking and 
praising God; and they took knowledge of 
him, that it was he that sat for alms at the 
Beautiful Gate of the temple ; and they were 
filled with wonder and amazement at that 
which had happened unto him.'' Acts 3:1- 
10. 

In addition to all the array of scripture, 
which specifically encourages every one to 
do personal w^ork we have the example of 
Christ as he dealt personally with Nico- 
demus, and the disciples, who were diligent 
to bring others under the influence of Jesus 
when He was living here among men. 

It is the privilege as well as the obliga- 
tion of every saved individual to engage in 
personal work. 

If you are saved yourself, help some one 
else into the kingdom. 

[27] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Personal work is not difficult. It is easy. 
Listen, "My yoke is easy/' 

Personal work is practical. It is the 
pride of the business man to meet his fel- 
lowman and talk to him about his business 
and if possible to make out of him a cus- 
tomer. 

Social activities make it obligatory. 
Education demands it. The politician is 
a diligent personal worker. This is the 
process by which he climbs into office, 
usually. 

What is profitable in these different de- 
partments of life is also profitable with the 
Christian. The Christian should do per- 
sonal work only after much prayer. The 
record is that Paul and Silas, two of the 
greatest personal workers known in their 
time, prayed all night, and then were pre- 
pared to tell the terrified jailer what to do 
to be saved. 

The successful soul winners of all time 
have been men and women of much prayer. 

[28] 



PERSONAL WORK 

John Knox often spent the whole night in 
prayer. Martin Luther spent three hours 
in prayer each day. Soul winner, do not 
attempt to lead men and women into the 
light of the gospel of Christ, until you have 
spent much time in prayer to God for 
guidance. 



[29] 



Ill 

THE PERSONAL WORKER 

Lesson Two 

To bring others into right relationship 
with Jesus Christ is a task that angels might 
well covet. The large majority of us are 
unable to sway the multitudes by our elo- 
quence; but we can tell individuals with 
whom we associate day by day of the sav- 
ing and renewing power of Christ. Henry 
Ward Beecher said, "The longer I live, the 
more confidence I have in those sermons 
preached where one man is the minister 
and one man is the congregation; where 
there is no question as to who is meant when 
the preacher says, "Thou art the Man.'' In 
the work of the Kingdom there is a task 
for those who can sway the multitudes by 
their eloquent sermons and there is a task 

[30] 



THE PERSONAL WORKER 

for the individual who can lead one indi- 
vidual to accept Christ. This is the Bible 
way of evangelism as set forth in the first 
chapter of the gospel by St. John. 

There is a wonderful array of scripture 
setting forth the work of the personal 
evangelist. We give some of the passages 
for the prayerful consideration of the stu- 
dent; these and similar passages should be 
committed to memory for use when the ac- 
tual work is begun. 

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, 
and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I 
say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look 
on the fields; that they are white already 
unto harvest. He that reapeth receiveth 
wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal ; 
that both he that soweth and he that reap- 
eth may rejoice together." John 1(^:35-36. 

"I am the vine, ye are the branches; he 
that abideth in me, and I in him, the same 
beareth much fruit; for apart from me ye 
can do nothing.'' John 15:5. 

[31] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

^^And they that be wise shall shine as the 
brightness of the firmament ; and they that 
turn many to righteousness as the stars for 
ever and ever." Daniel 12:3, 

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be 
thou an ensample to them that believe, in 
word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, 
in purity. Till I come give heed to reading, 
to exhortation, to teaching.'' / Timothy 
4:12-13. 

"Let no corrupt speech proceed out of 
your mouth, but such as is good for edify- 
ing as the need may be, that it may give 
grace to them that hear. And grieve not 
the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were 
sealed unto the day of redemption.'' Eph. 
4:29-30. 

"I beseech you therefore brethren, by the 
mercies of God, to present your bodies a 
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 
which is your spiritual service. And be not 
fashioned according to this world; but be 
ye transformed by the renewing of your 

[32] 



M 



THE PERSONAL WORKER 

mind, that ye may prove what is the good 
and acceptable and perfect will of God.'' 
Romans 12:1-2. 

"Give diligence, to present thyself ap- 
proved of God, a workman that needeth 
not to be ashamed, handling right the word 
of truth.'' II Timothy 2:15. 

"Every scripture inspired of God, is also 
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for cor- 
rection, for instruction which is in right- 
eousness ; that the man of God may be com- 
plete, furnished completely unto every good 
work." // Timothy 3:16-17. 

"And, behold, I come quickly ; and my re- 
ward is with me, to give every man accord- 
ing as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. 

The personal worker must be character- 
ized by certain natural endowments. We 
give some of these, briefly, here for the con- 
sideration of the student: 

The personal worker should be tactful, 
shrewd, wise, courageous. His address must 

[33] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

appeal. He must be a person of good char- 
acter. His habits must be properly formed. 
He must avoid dangerous companionships 
and places of resort. He must not be apolo- 
getic. 

He must be well endowed spiritually. His 
spiritual qualifications will include being 
seved himself. He must know that he is 
saved. He must believe the Bible. He must 
have all faith in the power of the gospel to 
save to the uttermost all those who believe 
it. He must be mightily impressed with the 
fact that men without Christ are eternally 
lost. He must hate sin. He must love 
righteousness, know his Bible, and be a man 
of prayer. He must have faith, humility 
and be personally pure. He must be pa- 
tient and have great love for the unsaved. 
He should make a report of every visit made 
and every soul brought to Christ. 



[34] 



IV 

SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL 
WORKERS 

Lesson Three 

To some, personal work may seem a small 
matter, too small in fact, to waste time with 
it. The personal worker should divest him- 
self of this idea at once. Joel Stratton won 
John B. Gough from a life of disgrace and 
shame. Mr. Gough expressed his apprecia- 
tion to Mr. Stratton in the following words : 
"My friend, it may be a small matter for 
you to speak the one word for Christ that 
wins a needy soul — a small matter to you, 
but it is everything to him." 

The suggestions which follow are to be 
considered by the student, simply, as sug- 
gestions and nothing more. It is possible 

[35] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

for each suggestion mentioned to have 
something added or subtracted, doubtless, 
and if so, then, have no hesitancy in alter- 
ing them to suit the conditions surround- 
ing the work to be accomplished. The sug- 
gestions follow : 

1. Choose persons of your own sex and 
age, as far as possible. 

2. Get the individual with whom you are 
dealing all alone. 

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in 
everything. 

4. Do not content yourself in reading or 
quoting scripture to him. Ask him to com- 
mit certain verses to memory. 

5. Use only a single passage of scripture 
at a time. 

6. Hold him to the one passage or sub- 
ject under consideration. 

7. By all means, be courteous. 

8. Be dead in earnest. 

9. Never lose your temper. Keep sweet. 
10. Never argue. 

[36] 



SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 

11. Never interrupt another. 

12. Do not be in a hurry. 

13. When at all wise get the man to pray. 

14. When you seem to fail do not be dis- 
couraged. Go home and pray. 

15. If you seem to fail the first time to 
win him leave him in a humor that will per- 
mit a return visit. 

16. When once j^ou have won him give 
him some instruction in practical Christian 
living. 

17. When you have won him impress him 
with the importance of relating himself with 
the Church of his choice. 

18. When he has united with the Church 
give him something to do. 

19. If he should show indications of loss 
of interest in the Church, speak an encour- 
aging word to him. 

20. It is the "I can" fellow who brings 
things to pass. 

Napoleon said "Can't is found only in the 
dictionary of fools." 

[37] 



V 

METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 

Lesson Four 

This is an age of specialization. The best 
methods of bringing things to pass are being 
sought in every department of life. Prog- 
ress is apparent everywhere. We do not 
do things to-day like we did yesterday ; and 
we will not do things to-morrow like we are 
doing them to-day. Hence there can be 
no set rules for the great task of leading 
men into the light of the gospel of Christ. 

As one star differeth from another star 
so people differ from each other. No two 
leaves that tremble on the oak, and no two 
roses that bloom in the flower garden, are 
identically the same. 

The method that might be very effective 

[38] 



METHODS OP PERSONAL WORK 

with one individual would utterly fail if 
applied to another. 

Jesus Christ the great teacher sent from 
God has given us the only safe rule for 
guidance in this work of soul winning in 
the words, "My meat is to do the will of 
him that sent me, and to finish his work." 

We present the following as a guide to 
the worker: 

First — there is an approach to each in- 
dividual. The worker should study the in- 
dividual and be sure he is right and then go 
ahead. Even as the successful teacher 
would not think of permitting a year to 
pass without reading a good work on 
psychology, so the personal worker may 
profit by the same rule. We should remem- 
ber that none of us is perfect. The best of 
us will make mistakes, but God overrules 
honest mistakes to His own Glory. 

Second — good judgment is essential to 
successful effort. In personal work as in 

[39] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

every other work there is needed a good 
supply of common sense. The successful 
salesman studies the needs of his customers. 
^^He does not offer silks to the Eskimo or 
furs to the Ethiopian. He does not try to 
sell plowshares to seamen or anchors to 
farmers. He studies diligently, the person- 
alities of those to whom he would sell his 
wares. He tries to thoroughly understand 
their viewpoints, their modes of thought, 
their mental attitudes, their business meth- 
ods, their personal habits, their social con- 
nections, their politics and their religion.'' 
Third — there must be naturalness on the 
part of the personal worker. Camouflage is 
easily detected. You cannot long seem what 
you are not without being found out. The 
men who have won out on account of their 
peculiarities have not assumed such peculi- 
arities. They were natural with them. The 
man who tries to be some one else usually 
falls heir only to the weak things in the life 

[40] 



METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 

of the one he attempts to imitate. The imi- 
tator is a failure, as a rule. Personal 
worker, be yourself, your best self! 

Fourth — the personal worker must be 
tremendously in earnest. Earnestness has 
won many a victory. Ralph Waldo Emer- 
son said "Every great and commanding 
movement in the history of the world is the 
result of earnestness bordering on enthusi- 
asm.'' The minister said to the actor, "How 
is it that you, speaking fiction, can wring 
tears from the eyes of your hearers, while 
I, speaking the truth, cannot so effect my 
audience?" 

The actor replied by saying, "The answer 
is easy. I speak fiction as though it were 
truth while you speak truth as though it 
were fiction." When Lloyd Garrison was 
assailed by his enemies, he met them with 
this declaration, "I am in earnest. I will 
not equivocate. I will not retreat. I will 
be heard." This brought victory. All the 
opposing powers in the world cannot keep 

[41] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

the earnest and determined man from walk- 
ing in the great highway of success. "Pur- 
pose once fixed — then death or victory" — 
will accomplish anything that can be done 
in this world. 

Men are greatly in earnest as to their 
business. The people who care for so-called 
society enter into it with earnestness. The 
politician does not go about his campaign 
with an indifferent careless spirit. He goes 
out to win. And many times even after 
the returns are in, he is hard to be con- 
vinced that he has been defeated. Why not 
be in earnest about our religious work? It 
is the greatest work in the world. One time 
when Eowland Hill was speaking most ear- 
nestly, he stopped in the midst of his dis- 
course and said, "Because I am in earnest 
men call me an enthusiast. When I first 
came into this community,'' he said, "I saw a 
gravel pit fall in and entomb three men. I 
yelled loud enough to be heard a mile away. 
Men came and saved the life of two of the 

[42] 



METHODS OP PERSONAL WORK 

men. At that time no one seemed to think 
that I was too much in earnest.'' Personal 
workers, souls are perishing for the water of 
life! Be in earnest about your work! It 
is said a certain minister kept the picture 
of Henry Martin in his study. Wherever 
he would move round in the room the eyes 
of the man of God seemed to follow him 
and seemed to say to him "Be in earnest, do 
not trifle, do not trifle." And this good man 
would bow his head and say "I will be in 
earnest, I will not trifle. For souls are per- 
ishing and Jesus must be glorified." 

A number of good methods for personal 
work have been suggested by certain suc- 
cessful soul winners. Among them we 
would call attention to the "Invitation 
Method." 

This consists in simply inviting people 
to the services and by this means get them 
under the power of the sermon and the song. 

Some have used the "Correspondence 
Method" to fine advantage. Some workers 

[43] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

have had gospel invitations printed on their 
stationery. The worker should be very dis- 
creet in this as well as other ways of work- 
ing. 

Some have used the "Prayer Method" 
with much success. Sometimes the prayers 
of workers have resulted in the conversion 
of the unsaved. 

In dealing with a soul he should be 
brought face to face with the question of 
his acceptance or rejection of Christ as his 
Saviour. Now is the time. To delay is dan- 
gerous. 



[44] 



VI 



SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL 
WORKERS 

Lesson Five 

First, ^^Be prayerful/^ 

^^In nothing be anxious; but in every- 
thing by prayer and supplication with 
thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known unto God.'' Phil. 4'6. 

"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into 
thine inner chamber, and having shut thy 
door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, 
and thy Father who seeth in secret shall 
recompense thee/' Matt. 6:6. 
Second, "^^Be tactfuU^ 

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for 
thou shalt find it after many days." Eccl. 
11:1. 

"Giving no occasion of stumbling in any- 

[45] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

thing, that our ministration be not blamed." 
// Cor. 6:3. 
Third, ''Be loyaV 

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or 
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of 
God/' I Cor. 10:31. 

"But Peter and John answered and said 
unto them, whether it is right in the sight 
of God to hearken unto you, rather than 
unto God, judge ye ; for we cannot but speak 
the things which we saw and heard.'' Acts 
4:19-20. 
Fourth, ''Be clean.^^ 

"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the 
Lord will not hear me." Psalms 66:18. 
Fifth, "Be sure of your own salvation.^^ 

"Therefore being justified by faith we 
have peace with God, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1. 

"There is therefore now no condemnation 
to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk 
not after the flesh, but after the "Spirit." 
Romans 8:1. 

[46] 



SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 

Sixth, ^^Be separate from the world/^ 

''Be ye not unequally yoked together with 
unbelievers; for what fellowship hath right- 
eousness with unrighteousness? and what 
communion hath light with darkness? And 
what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or 
what part hath he that believeth with an 
infidel? And what agreement hath the tem- 
ple of God with idols? For ye are the tem- 
ple of the living God; as God hath said, I 
will dwell in them, and walk in them; and 
I will be their God, and they shall be my 
people. 

"Wherefore come out from among them, 
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and 
touch not the unclean thing; and I will re- 
ceive you, and will be a Father unto you, 
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, 
saith the Lord Almighty.'^ // Cor. 6:14-18. 
Seventh, ^"^Be definite in your mork.^^ 

"For I determined not to know anything 
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him 
crucified.'^ / Cor. 2:2. 

[47] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Eighth, ^^Be specific in your work/^ 

"He that believeth on Him is not con- 
demned: but he that believeth not is con- 
demned already, because he hath not be- 
lieved in the name of the only begotten Son 
of God/' John 3:18. 
Ninth, ^"^Be devoted to your work/^ 

"But what things were gain to me, those 
I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless, and 
I count all things but loss for the excel- 
lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my 
Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of 
all things, and do count them but dung, 
that I may win Christ.'' Phil 3:7-8. 
Tenth, ''Be a Bihle Student.'' 

"Study to show thyself approved unto 
God, a workman that needeth not to be 
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 
truth." // Tim. 2:15. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of 
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re- 
proof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness; that the man of God may be 

[48] 



SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 

perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
works.'' // Tim, 3:16-17, 
Eleventh, ^^Be a Lover of Christ,^^ 

^Whom having not seen, you love.'^ 
1 Pet. 1:8. "We love him because he first 
loved us." / John 1^:19. 
Twelfth, ^^Be intense in your lo^ve for souls/^ 

^^Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer 
to God for Israel is, that they might be 
saved." Romans 10:1. 
Thirteenth, ^^Be a worker of unwavering 
faith.'' 

"Above all, taking the shield of faith 
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the 
fiery darts of the wicked." Eph. 6:16. 

"Holding faith, and a good conscience; 
which some having put away, concerning 
faith have made a shipwreck; of whom is 
Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have 
delivered unto Satan that they may learn 
not to blaspheme." I Tim. 1:19-20. 
Fourteenth, ^^Be wholly dependent on the 
Holy Spirit.'' 

[49] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy 
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my 
name, he shall teach you all things, and 
bring all things to your remembrance, what- 
soever I have said unto you.'' John 14'26. 
Fifteenth, ^^Be gentle hut earnest/^ 

"Come unto me all ye that labor and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take 
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I 
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall 
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is 
easy, and my burden is light.'' Matt. 
11:28-30. 

Sixteenth, ^^Be careful to urge immediate 
decision.^^ 

"King Agrippa, believest thou the proph- 
ets? I know that thou believest. Then 
Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou per- 
suadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, 
I would to God, that not only thou, but also 
all that hear me this day, were both almost, 
and altogether such as I am, except these 
bonds." Acts 26:27-29. 

[50] 



SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 

"Now is the accepted time; behold now 
is the day of salvation.'' // Cor. 6: 2. 
Seventeenth, ^^Let us not he weary in well- 

doing^ for in due season we shall reap 

if we faint not.'' Galatians 6:9. 
Eighteenth, ^^Be not slothful in business; 

fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." 

Romans 12:11. 



[51] 



VII 

PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT OF 
THYSELF? 

Lesson Six 

First, Do I listen for the voice of God? 

"I will h^ what God the Lord will 
speak ; for he will speak peace unto his peo- 
ple, and to his saints ; but let them not turn 
again to folly.'' 

Second, Am I conscious of my secret 
Faults? 

^^Cleanse thou me from secret faults." 
Psalm 19:12. 
Third, Have I Presumptuous sins? 

"Keep back thy servant also from pre- 
sumptuous sins ; let them not have dominion 
over me; then shall I be upright, and I 
shall be innocent from the great transgres- 
sion.'' Psalm 19:13. 

[52] 



PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT OF THYSELF? 

Fourth, Are my words acceptable words? 

^^Let the words of my mouth and the medi- 
tations of my heart, be acceptable in thy 
sight, O Lord, my strength, and my re- 
deemer/' Psalm 19:14- 

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold 
in pictures of silver." Prov. 25:11. 
Fifth, Do I abstain from fleshly lusts and 
desires? 

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strang- 
ers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, 
which war against the soul." / Pet. 2:11. 
Sixth, Am I living a pure life? 

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither 
be partaker of other men's sins; keep thy- 
self pure." / Tim. 5:22. 
Seventh, Do I keep myself in the love of 
God? 

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves 
on your most holy faith, praying in the 
Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of 
God, looking for the mercy of our Lord 
Jesus Christ." 

[53] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Eighth, Do I know the source of my help? 

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills 
from whence cometh my help. My help 
Cometh from the Lord, which made heaven 
and earth.'' Psalm 121:1-2. 
Ninth, Is my life filled with trepidation or 
trusty which? 

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the 
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, 
and find grace to help in time of need.'' 
Eel. 4:16. 

Tenth, Am I in touch with the great source 
of supply? 

"But my God shall supply all your need 
according to his riches in glory by Jesus 
Christ." Phil. 4:19. 

Eleventh, Is my mind and heart stayed on 
Christ? 

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 
whose mind is stayed on thee; because he 
trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3. 
Twelfth, Do I know my power? 

[54] 



PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT OF THYSELF? 

^^If ye abide with me, and my words abide 
in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it 
shall be done unto you." John 15: 7. 
Thirteenth, Do I let my light shine? 

^^Let your light so shine before men, that 

they may see your good works, and glorify 

your Father who is in heaven/' John 5:16. 

Fourteenth, Do I rightly direct my 

thoughts? 

^Tinally brethren, whatsoever things are 
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatso- 
ever things are just, whatsoever things are 
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatso- 
ever things are of good report; if there be 
any virtue, and if there be any praise, think 
on these things/' Phil. Jf-'S- 
Fifteenth, Have I received the Holy Spirit? 

^^But ye shall receive power, after that the 
Holy Spirit is come upon you ; and ye shall 
be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, 
and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto 
the uttermost part of the earth/' Acts 1 :8. 

[55] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Note. — If the Personal Worker will take 
the time to commit these questions and an- 
swers they will be an abiding source of 
strength and help in winning souls to Christ. 



[56] 



VIII 

THE PERSONAL WORKERS^ 
OPPORTUNITIES 

Lesson Seven 

The opportunities for personal evangel- 
ism present themselves in many different 
ways. The ice-man, the milk-man, the gro- 
cery-man, the gas-meter reader, the electric 
light meter reader, the man who works by 
your side in the factory or the store, the 
man with whom you travel on the train, in 
fact every individual you meet, who is not 
now a Christian, is a possible disciple of 
Christ. It is your task as a personal work- 
er, guided by the Holy Spirit, to bring that 
one to know Christ, whom to know aright 
is life eternal. 

Then there is work among ourselves as 
Christians. It is said that the early Chris- 

[57] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

tians spake often one to another. There is 
much to talk about if we are truly follow- 
ers of Christ. 

If we are really Christians we have many 
reasons for giving thanks unto the Father 
of us all. 

"He brought me up out of a horrible pit, 
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon 
a rock, and established my goings.'' Psalms 
40:2. 

"I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy 
transgressions for mine own sake, and will 
not remember thy sins." Isa. 43:25. 

"Let not your heart be troubled; ye be- 
lieve in God, believe also in me. In my Fa- 
ther's house are many mansions; if it were 
not so I would have told you. I go to pre- 
pare a place for you. And if I go and pre- 
pare a place for you, I will come again, and 
receive you unto myself; that where I am, 
there ye may be also. And whither I go ye 
know, and the way ye know." John 14:1-4- 

There are many backsliders who need to 

[58] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' OPPORTUNITIES 

he brought hack to right relationship with 
Christ. The lost sheep of the house of Is- 
rael needed hunting up when Christ came 
into the world. There are many Church 
members who have lost their way and they 
need help in order that they might again 
find their places of usefulness in the Church. 

"The backslider in heart shall be filled 
with his own ways." Prov, 14'14- 

"Go and proclaim these words toward the 
north, and say, Eeturn, thou backsliding 
Israel, saith the Lord ; and I will not cause 
mine anger to fall upon you ; for I am mer- 
ciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep 
anger forever." Jer. 3:12. 

"So when thev had dined, Jesus saith to 
Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest 
thou me more than these? He saith unto 
him. Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love 
thee. He saith unto him. Feed my lambs." 

"He said to him again the second time, 
Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He 
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest 

[59] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed 
my sheep." 

"He saith unto him the third time, Simon, 
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was 
grieved because he said unto him the third 
time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto 
him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou 
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto 
him. Feed my sheep.'' John 21:15-17. 

"Now the just shall live by faith ; but if 
any man draw back, my soul shall have no 
pleasure in him.'' Heb. 10:38. 

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against 
thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 
Remember therefore from whence thou art 
fallen, and repent, and do the first works, 
or else I will come unto thee quickly, and 
will remove thy candlestick out of his place, 
except thou repent." Rev. 2:^-5. 

And last there are those who are lost in 
sin, the vast throng of unhelievers, who must 
he led into the light of the glorious gospel. 

[60] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' OPPORTUNITIES 

The following scripture will throw light 
on the present condition of such individ- 
uals: 

^^He that believeth on him is not con- 
demned; but he that believeth not is con- 
demned already, because he hath not be- 
lieved in the name of the only begotten Son 
of God/' John 3:18. 

^^And when he is come, he will reprove the 
world of sin, and of righteousness, and of 
judgment; of sin because they believe not 
on me/' John 16:8-9. 

^Tor as many as are of the works of the 
law are under the curse; for it is written, 
Cursed is every one that continueth not in 
all things which are written in the book of 
the law to do them." Gal. 3:10. 

The future condition of the unsaved is 
vividly set forth in the following declara- 
tions of the Bible: 

^^He that believeth on the Son hath ever- 
lasting life; and he that believeth not the 

[61] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL E\ANGELISM 

Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God 
abideth on him/' John 3:36. 

"I also will laugh at your calamity; I 
will mock when your fear cometh; when 
your fear cometh as desolation, and your 
destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when 
distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then 
shall they call upon me, but I will not an- 
swer; they shall seek me early, but they 
shall not find me.'' Proverbs 1:26-28. 

"For the Lord knoweth the way of the 
righteous ; but the way of the ungodly shall 
perish." Psalms 1 :6. 

"And while they went to buy, the bride- 
groom came ; and they that were ready went 
in with him to the marriage ; and the door 
was shut." Matt. 25:10. 

"Then said Jesus unto them, I go my way, 
and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your 
sins; whither I go, ye cannot come." John 
8:21. 

"And these shall go away into everlast- 

[62] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' OPPORTUNITIES 

ing punishment ; but the righteous into life 
eternal." Matt. 25:^6. 

The personal evangelist should always 
bear in mind that salvation has been pro- 
vided for all unbelievers^ and that it is in 
his power to avert such disasters as are de- 
scribed^ so graphically^ in the foregoing 
scriptural declaration. 

"For the Son of man is come to seek and 
to save that which was lost." LuJce 19:10. 

"But God commendeth his love toward 
us, in that, while we were yet sinners, 
Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. 

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of 
all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
the world to save sinners." / Tim. 1:15. 

"For Christ hath once suffered for sins, 
the just for the unjust, that he might bring 
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, 
but quickened by the Spirit." I Pet. 3:18. 

"In this was manifested the love of God 
toward us, because that God sent his only 

[63] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

begotten Son into the world, that we might 
live through him. Herein is love, not that 
we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent 
his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 
IJohn 4:9-10. 

There is salvation for all who will repent 
of their sins. Here is the very message that 
God would have the personal evangelist to 
deliver : 

^^Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord 
God, I have no pleasure in the death of the 
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his 
way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your 
evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of 
Israel.'' E^ek. 33:11. 

"Repent ye, and believe the gospel.'' 
Mark 1:15. 

There is absolutely no hope for the sin- 
ner without Christ. 

"But as many as received him, to them 
gave he power to become the sons of God, 
even to them that believe on his name." 
John 1:12. 

[64] 



IX 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 

WINNING SOULS 

Lesson Eight 

^^Come for all things are now ready.'' 
Luke llf^Xy. This is the invitation of the 
Great Head of the Church. When Christ 
was in the world he often taught by para- 
bles. This invitation occurs in the parable 
of the "Marriage Supper." The big thing 
in the hearts of men then, as now, was the 
exaltation of self. Christ came into this 
world to teach men a better way. In this 
parable he strikes selfishness a sledge ham- 
mer blow. He said when you are invited to 
a feast take the lowest seat. It is better 
to take a low seat and be invited up, than 
to take a high seat and be invited down. 
This idea was new to the Pharisees. 

[65] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Then he said when you make a feast in- 
vite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the halt 
and the blind. Doubtless those sedate Phar- 
isees said, Master these people are not all 
members of our social gang. Many of us 
would not feel at home at a feast which 
would be given by Christ. 

In this parable we have the account of a 
certain man who made a great feast and 
bade many. When the supper was prepared 
he sent his servant out to tell the guests 
that all things were ready. They began to 
make excuse. 

The first said, "I have bought a piece of 
ground. I must see it. Please, have me 
excused.'' Another said, "I have bought 
five yoke of oxen. I go to prove them. 
Please have me excused.'' And still an- 
other said, "I have married a wife, there- 
fore I cannot come." 

The servant returned and reported his 
findings. The Master of the house was very 
angry. Why shouldn't he be? The servants 

[66] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 

then were sent into the streets and lanes of 
the city, to the highways and hedges, to in- 
vite the halt, the lame, and the blind, in 
fact any one whom they might encounter in 
their rounds. 

This feast is typical of the great feast 
which has been so bountifully prepared by 
Christ and the invitation is to ^^Come for all 
things are now ready/' 

Nothing has been left undone. Jesus has 
tasted death for every man. He gave Him- 
self a ransom for sin. By His stripes we 
are healed. A devotee of a pagan religion 
went to his priest and asked him how to be 
free from his burden of guilt. He was told 
to drive spikes into his shoe soles and to 
walk on them a distance of five hundred 
miles. He undertook the journey. Of course 
he found no relief. One day while resting 
under the shade of a great tree by the road 
side where travelers were accustomed to 
stop and rest, a missionary came, and began 
to speak to the people gathered there. He 

[67] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

took for his text ^^The blood of Jesus Christ, 
His Son, cleanseth from all sin.'' This poor 
man said ^This is what I want. This is what 
I have wanted to hear, oh, so long." He 
accepted the message of the gospel and be- 
came a devoted Christian. The awful bur- 
den of the world is sin. The only remedy 
is the blood of Christ. There are those who 
tell you that the blood of Christ is no more 
than the blood of any other good man. Do 
not believe such nonsense. There is no re- 
mission of sin apart from the shed blood 
of Christ. 

^^Cbme, sinner to the gospel feast, 
Let every soul be Jesus' ^est, 
You need not one be left behind, 
God hath bidden all mankind.'' 

The Holy Spirit pleads with men to turn 
from their sin and live. As the sun pours 
his invigorating rays down into the very 
heart of the earth and fills all vegetable life 
with new vitality, so the Holy Spirit is 
ready to come into men's hearts and fill 
them with Christ's life. Never was a 

[68] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 

sparkling rain drop readier to come down 
into the heart of the rose than the Holy 
Spirit is to come into the sin sick soul to 
bring the healing balm. He stands at the 
door of every faded life to offer new lustre 
and beauty. 

How willing Christ was to speak to the 
leper as he came down from the mountain 
after having delivered that great sermon on 
the mount, just that willing is He to give 
life to the sinner to-day. The Holy Spirit 
stands in readiness to bring the world back 
into right relationship with God. There 
is every possible encouragement for men to 
come back to Christ. The promises of God 
to the sinner shine out of His word like the 
stars out of the vaulted sky. The promises 
of God are an exhaustless mine of wealth. 
Happy is the man who can find this mine 
and enrich himself with its treasures. 

The promises of God are an armory. It 
contains all manner of weapons, defensive 
and offensive. Fortunate, indeed, is the 

[69] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

man who obtains the key to this armory and 
enters the sacred arsenal to clothe himself 
with the breastplate of righteousness and 
the helmet of salvation. 

The promises of God are a surgery. Here 
the diligent seeker may find all manner of 
restoratives and blessed elixirs. Here the 
sinner finds an ointment for every canker- 
ing sore, a cordial for every faintness and 
a remedy for every disease. Happy is the 
man who becomes skilled in heavenly phar- 
macy and knows how to search out the heal- 
ing virtues. 

The Bible is a casket of promises. Lift 
the lid and watch the diamonds sparkle. 
Some diamond hunters became discouraged 
because they did not find what they were 
seeking. Some of the company was ready 
to give over the search. One of them said 
"Let us search just a little longer.'' They 
did so, and found enough diamonds to af- 
fect the diamond market of the world. Here 
in God's Book, the Personal Workers^ hand 

[70] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 

hooky are the most wonderful diamonds in 
the world. God gives to ns these exceeding 
great and precious promises notwithstand- 
ing our unw^orthiness to receive them. When 
Caesar had remembered a friend with a 
valuable gift, the friend said it is too great 
for me to receive, whereupon Caesar said 
"It is not too great for me to give." The 
promises of God are great but not too great 
for Him to give to every man who will ac- 
cept them. 

The Personal Worker need not go about 
his task apologetically. The greatest men 
of all time have been men of God. 

Moses, Paul, and David tower far above 
the men of their time. Luther, Wesley, and 
Calvin were the prominent men of their 
time. Gladstone and Frances Willard are 
names, more recently indelibly written on 
the scroll of greatness. 

Notwithstanding all these favorable con- 
ditions that confront men in regard to their 
becoming Christians there are many who 

[71] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

are still making excuses as they did in the 
first century of personal evangelism. Men 
say ^^I am trying to live as well as I can/' 
"Mj life talks.'' It is most foolish to try to 
live right without God's help. Others say, 
"When I am fixed in business I will give 
spiritual things the attention they demand 
but not now." "Seek first the Kingdom of 
God." 

And still others say, "Christianity is a 
gloomy thing, and therefore I do not want to 
have anything to do with it." 

Is it gloomy? The Apostle Paul, pos- 
sibly the greatest advocate of Christianity, 
aside from Christ Himself, taught that 
Christianity was calculated to make a man 
rejoice in the very presence of persecution 
and death itself. Notice a contrast : Phillip 
Stanhope was the polished English gentle- 
man, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, high 
born, eloquent, witty, but he worshipped not 
God. He was admired. In social life he 
shone as a star of the first magnitude. He 

[T2] 



THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 

was the silver-tongued orator of Parliament. 
He received every honor that could come to 
a man. But the closing of his life came. 
What did he have to say then? The last 
w#rds of a man are usually his weightiest 
words. When he came down and faced 
death he said, "My life has been joyless. My 
life has been empty. My life has been 
selfish.^^ Repartees sparkled from his dying 
lips, but all was gloomy and foreboding 
from within. The pleasures and honors of 
the world had faded like stars at break of 
day. Truth declines to write his epitaph, 
virtue has no garlands for his grave. 

But on the other hand notice the closing 
scenes of one humble servant of Christ. 
John Wesley spent his life helping others. 
Selfishness had no place in his great heart. 

He sought not the world's pleasures, but 
the heavenly, and down at the closing scenes 
of a life of usefulness he said, "The best of 
all is, God is with us ; I am going home to 
die no more.'' 

[73] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

Personal worker ^ go out into the homes, 
business offices, factories, everywhere and 
say "Come for all things are now ready/' 

A feast of good things in life, awaits you. 
"Come for all things are now ready/' * 

Contentment in death, awaits you. "Come 
for all things are now ready.'' 

A blessed immortality beyond the grave, 
awaits you. "Come for all things are now 
ready.'' 



[74] 



THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS 

BIBLE 

Lesson Nine 

The one book, indispensable, to the suc- 
cess of the personal worker is the Bible. 
This he cannot afford to neglect. Some 
look upon this wonderful book as a garden 
of spices, in which you may walk, and at 
your leisure pluck the flowers and gather 
the fruits of the Eden of God. ^^But the 
(pible is more like a mine, in which you must 
dig and labor, the vast wealth of which is 
not to be obtained without much toil — Si 
mine rich in gold and precious things, but 
it must be wrought day and night in order 
to produce them.'' 

"The Bible is the best covenant that was 
^ver agreed on, the best deed that was ever 

[75] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

sealed, the best evidence ever produced, the 
best will that was ever made and the best 
testament that was ever signed, and that 
which crowns all is, that the Author is 
without partiality, decides only what He 
understands all about, without hypocrisy, 
in whom is no "variableness, neither shadow 
of turning.'' 

How should the Personal Worker use his 
Bible? 

First, the Bible should he studied prayer- 
fully, 

"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold 
wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 
119:18. 

Second, The Bible should be studied dili- 
gently. 

"And these words, which I command thee 
this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou 
shalt teach them diligently unto thy chil- 
dren, and shalt talk of them when thou sit- 
test in thine house, and when thou walkest 
by the way, and when thou liest down, and 

[76] 



THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS BIBLE 

when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind 
them for a sign upon thine hand, and they 
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 
And thou shalt write them upon the posts 
of thy house, and on thy gates.'' Deut. 
6:6-9. 

Third, The Bible should he studied studi- 
ously. 

"These were more noble than those in 
Thessalonica, in that they received the word 
with all readiness of mind, and searched the 
Scriptures daily, whether those things were 
true.'' Acts 17:11. 

Fourth, The Bible should he studied hon- 
estly. 

"But that on the good ground are they, 
which in an honest and good heart, having 
heard the word, keep it, and bring forth 
fruit with patience." Luke 8:15. 
Fifth, The Bible should he studied under 
the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy 
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my 

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TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

name, He shall teach you all things, and 
bring all things to your remembrance, what- 
soever I have said unto you." John 14:26, 
Sixth, The Bible should be studied micro- 
scopically. 

"Search the Scriptures; for in them ye 
think ye have eternal life ; and they are they 
which testify of me.'' John 5:39. 
Seventh, The Bible should be studied tele- 
scopically. 

"His going forth is from the end of the 
heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it ; 
and there is nothing hid from the heat 
thereof.'' Psalms 19:6. 
Eighth, The Bible should be studied in the 
light of Chrisfs World Program. 

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, 
saying. All power is given unto me in heaven 
and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach 
all nations, baptizing them in the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all 
things whatsoever I have commanded you; 

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THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS BIBLE 

and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
end of the world.'' Matt. 28:18-20. 
Mnth, The Bible should he studied in the 
light of the First coming of Christ. 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a 
son is given; and the government shall be 
upon his shoulder; and his name shall be 
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty 
God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of 
Peace. Of the increase of his government 
and peace there shall be no end." Isa. 9:6-7. 
Tenth, The Bihle should he studied in the 
light of the second coming of Christ. 

"When the Son of man shall come in his 
glory, and all the holy angels with him, then 
shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; 
and before him shall be gathered all na- 
tions ; and he shall separate them one from 
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep 
from the goats; and he shall set the sheep 
on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

Then shall the King say unto them on his 

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TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Fathe 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you fro 
the foundation of the world/' Mai 
25:31^34. 



[80] 



XI 

IHE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS 
PROBLEMS 

Lesson Ten 

; "And they all with one consent began to 
lake excuse.'' Luke 14:18. 
j Now, as of old, men hunt for excuses for 
lot being a Christian, and their excuses are 
ist as frivolous as the excuses made by 
lose who were invited to the "great sup- 
er'' long ago. 

The Personal Worker must be able to 
leet the excuses with reasonable argument, 
>nvincing, beyond any shadow of a doubt, 
lat the thing for every man to do is to 
lake a full surrender of himself to Christ. 

We mention here some of the excuses 
hich the personal worker will hear, pos- 
bly, most frequently. 

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TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

First, ^^I want to he a Christian, hut I am 
not good enoughJ^ 

Amid the awful pandemonium of the 
world of darkness, were it possible to imag- 
ine a conference on the subject of turning 
men's minds against Christian principles, 
you would no doubt hear one of the cohorts 
say "I think the way to keep men from ac- 
cepting Christ is to advertise Christianity 
as a "Goody, goody'' kind of a thing and 
real men will spurn it." Satan is busy all 
the time trying to keep the fact out of men's 
minds that Christianity is a great principle. 
Christianity is a basic principle, and no in- 
dividual can be fully developed without it. 

Men come into the kingdom of heaven by 
being born into it. It is not a question of 
being good. It is a question of being bom 
again. "Ye must be born again," said the 
Great Teacher. 

A man said "I have certain ideas that I 
feel like I want to get rid of and then I 
am going to join the church." But becom- 

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THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 

ing a Christian is not ridding ourselves of 
certain preconceived notions. I said to this 
man "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your 
Lord and Master?" He said, "I do." Then 
I said, "Leave your notions to the disposal 
of your Lord and Master." 
But what does the Bible have to say in re- 
gard to being good? 

"For all have sinned and come short of 
the glory of God." Romans 3:23. 

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and 
all our righteousness is as filthy rags." 
Isa. 64:6. 

"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat 
in the house, behold, many publicans and 
sinners came and sat down with him and his 
disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, 
they said unto his disciples. Why eateth 
your master with publicans and sinners? 
But when Jesus heard that, he said unto 
them. They that be whole need not a physi- 
cian, but they that are sick. But go ye 
and learn what that meaneth, I will have 

[83] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

mercy, and not sacrifice ; for I am not come 
to call the righteous, but sinners to re- 
pentance.'' Matt. 9:10-13. 

"For the Son of man is come to seek and 
to save that which was lost.'' Matt. 18:11. 

"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or 
the leopard his spots? Then may ye also 
do good, that are accustomed to do evil." 
Jer. 13:23. 

"Not by works of righteousness which we 
have done, but according to his mercy he 
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, 
and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 
3:5. 

Surely with this array of scripture, no 
sinner, however vile, will hesitate a moment 
to come to Christ because he feels that he 
is not good enough. 

Second, ^^I want to he a Christian, hut I am 
afraid I cannot hold out.^^ 

Many people permit this excuse to keep 
them from making an immediate surrender 
of themselves to Christ. If a man could save 

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THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 

limself, he would have no need of a Saviour. 
ie would be his own Saviour. The Bible is 
|ilain on this point. 

"There hath no temptation taken you, but 
liuch as is common to man ; but God is faith- 
ful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
ibove that ye are able; but will with the 
.emptation also make a way to escape, that 
re may be able to bear it.'' I Cor. 10:13. 

"For whatsoever is born of God overcom- 
ith the world; and this is the victory that 
>vercometh the world, even our faith." 
[^ John 5:4- 

"Now unto him that is able to keep you 
Tom falling, and to present you faultless 
)ef ore the presence of his glory with exceed- 
^S J<^y? ^^ the only wise God our Saviour, 
je glory and majesty, dominion and power, 
}oth now and ever. Amen.'' Jiide 24-25. 

"For I know w^hom I have believed, and 
im persuaded that he is able to keep that 
^hich I have committed unto him against 
5hat day." // Tim. 1:12. 

[85] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

God not only knows how to keep men from 
falling, but his word is out that he will do 
it. He would permit heaven and earth to 
fall before he would allow one of his prom- 
ises to go unfulfilled. 

Third, Others will say ^^I am afraid of he- 
ing persecuted/^ 
A good way to deal with a man who is 
^^afraid" is to be plain with him and tell him 
he is cowardly, and leave him to think the 
matter over. A man who is a real man, and 
that is the kind who make the best Chris- 
tian workers, will not long stay under the 
shadow of being branded as a coward. 
Fourth, ^^I have tried before to he a Chris- 
tian but miserably failed/^ 
Such an one may be perfectly honest in 
his declaration and he needs to be helped 
into the light of what it really means to be 
a Christian. 

Fifth, There are still those who say^ ^^I can- 
not be a Christian so long as there are 
so many hypocrites in the ChurchJ^ 
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THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 

We must admit that there are some hypo- 
crites in the Church. But not nearly so 
many as there are out in the world. The 
best way to get away from hypocrites is to 
accept Christ and join the Church, and live 
for awhile with the few, who may be found 
in the Church and finally go to heaven where 
there are none at all. This is far better 
than to live in the world without Christ, and 
among the hypocrites to be found in almost 
every sphere of life, and finally to go to the 
world of darkness, where will be found all 
the hypocrites that joined the Church and 
all who did not. 

We do not reject dollars because we hap- 
pen to get a counterfeit in change once in a 
while. 

Sixth, Others will say ^^ There is too much 
to give up/^ 

The personal worker should bring the in- 
dividual out on this question, and find out 
what it is that he thinks he will have to 
give up, if he becomes a Christian. Do not 

[87] 



TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 

leave him until you thoroughly convince him 
that to become a Christian does not mean 
that he will have to surrender one single 
wholesome thing. 

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; 
the Lord will give grace and glory ; no good 
thing will he withhold from them that walk 
uprightly. O, Lord of Hosts, blessed is the 
man that trusteth in thee." Psalms 84 '11-12. 

"And he said unto them, Verily I say un- 
to you, there is no man that has left house 
or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, 
for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not 
receive manifold more in this present time, 
and in the world to come life everlasting." 
Luke 18:29-30. 

Seventh, and still others will say^ ^^I intend 
to hecome a Christian hut not now.^^ 

The Bible time is now, heaven's time is 
now, the true penitent's time is now, but 
the devil's time is not now. Which will you 
choose? 

"Boast not thyself of to-morrow ; for thou 

[88] 



THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 

knowest not what a day may bring forth.'' 
Prov. 27:1. 

^^He that being often reproved hardeneth 
his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and 
that without remedy.'' Prov. 29:1. 

^^Behold, now is the accepted time; be- 
hold now is the day of salvation." II Cor. 
6:2. 

These are only a few of the excuses that 
the personal worker will hear from time to 
time as he tries to bring men into the light 
of the gospel of Christ. It is interesting to 
jot down other excuses that you will hear as 
you come in contact with people of different 
feelings and temperaments. 

^^Therefore they that were scattered 
abrondy went about preaching the word.^^ 
Acts 8 :4. 

^^Go ye therefore^ and make disciples of 
all the nations.^^ Matt. 28 :19. 

THE END 

[89] 



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